MANCHESTER UNITED appear set to sign Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal with Manchester City, who have supposedly given up on the Chilean, expecting him to leave the Emirates this month.

Sanchez is wanted by both Manchester United and Manchester City with the player’s Arsenal career drawing to a close.

Express Sport understands Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho is desperate to know Sanchez’s transfer decision within the next week, with the 54-year-old determined to beat Pep Guardiola to the player’s signature.

Yet the Manchester Evening News say Sanchez is now likely to join United over City with Guardiola’s side no longer in the running.

It is said they are ready to walk away from a transfer because they are unwilling to meet Arsenal’s demands.

How Manchester United could line up with Alexis Sanchez

How could the Manchester United starting XI look if they sign Alexis Sanchez?

How could the Manchester United starting XI look if they sign Alexis Sanchez?

And Sanchez is said to want a deal that will see him become the Premier League’s highest-paid player.

Reports have claimed Manchester United are ready to offer him the wages he craves - and sacrifice deals for Gareth Bale and Antoine Griezmann in the process.

With City now expecting Sanchez to move, and no longer pursuing the player, it means a move to Old Trafford looks to be on the cards.

And it will be a deal that could send shockwaves around the Premier League.

United legend Rio Ferdinand, however, thinks the Arsenal star would be better off moving to City instead.

“I am going to be honest, if he has got an option to go from Arsenal to go to Manchester City or Manchester United, as a footballer who wanted to win trophies and would judge myself based on trophies being won, at the moment Manchester City looks like the place to go for him in that respect," he told BT Sport.

“They are top of the league, they are going to win the league this season, they are in the Champions League, they are looking like they will be in the final for the League cup, the FA Cup as well potentially.